Page 81 of Whiskey Sour

“You sound unusually…happy.”

While I don’t want to justify my happiness with a response, and part of me wants to keep last night to myself, Knox and I are kind of good friends now. So, I lean against the headboard with a wide smile. “Skylar and I had a good night.”

“I see.”He chuckles.“You’ve been having good nights for weeks. Did he suck your dick extra hard?”

“Nah, man.” I shake my head, even though he can’t see me. “Last night was…different.”

I can’t see if understanding strikes him, but Knox isn’t an idiot. There’s silence for a beat before he speaks.“I’ll need details. Over breakfast.”

Again, Knox wants to think he’s not like the rest of us, but he’s a gossip to his core. “Yeah, just— Fuck. What the hell?”

“What?”

“Nothing. It’s just my phone is blowing up.” I swipe up to look at the fact that I have ten new messages. All from the commissioner. “He’s really on something today.”

“Who?”

“The commissioner,” I tell him, quickly reading through the texts. “Says tonight is the championship fight. Says the cash money is huge.”

“Are you considering it?”

Truthfully, I haven’t had the itch for a good fight lately. I have no idea why, but it just hasn’t crossed my mind, and the commissioner hasn’t reached out until now. I shrug. “I don’t see why not.”

He scoffs.“Because your need for violence was tied to your incredible pining for your best friend, and now that you two apparently made great strides last night, there’s no point.”

Damn. That got deep real quick. “That’s not entirely true.”

“I only speak the truth.” I can’t tell if he’s shaking his head or rolling his eyes.“So, you’re fighting tonight?”

I think about it, and there is something appealing about one last fight. Plus, more money couldn’t hurt. Not that Skylar and I are struggling, but there’s nothing wrong with adding cash to our safety net. It’s practical, even.

Well, that’s what I tell myself. The truth?

My blood starts pumping. That familiar need for blood and violence courses through me. I feel on top of the world today. Proud, untouchable, so fucking happy, and the adrenaline boost a fight would give me would be the cherry on top.

“Yeah,” I finally decide. “Why not?”

Knox sighs on the other end.“Guess I’ll round up the guys. You’ll tell me the details over breakfast…which you’re supposed to be getting ready for.”

I snort and throw my legs over the bed. “Getting up. Now fuck off so I can get ready.”

“Gladly.”

He hangs up without another word, and I toss my phone onto the bed. Yeah, today’s going to be a great day. I woke up happy, I’m going to be fed, and I’ll end the day with a nice victory. I don’t know if I’ll fight anymore after tonight, but I can’t waste this high lounging around and waiting for Skylar to come home.

And when he does come home, I’ll be a champion.

Life couldn’t get any better.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Skylar

“So,are you going to say anything?”

I chew on my nail. Yeah, I guess I should. We’ve been sitting in this diner for the last ten minutes—Everest, Butch, Max, and I—completely silent. To be fair, asking them all to meet me here was a last-minute decision. I just needed to talk through what I’m thinking, have someone tell me I shouldn’t be freaking out, and have some hash browns.

“Cassius and I had sex last night.”